Foldable bath-mat.



B. n. KNIGKERBO-GKEB. I

FOLDABLE BATH MAT. APPLIGATION 111 21311411. 14, 1910. J

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

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THE NORRIS P51 ERS C0,, wasumcrou, D c.

B. D. KNIGKERBOOKBR.

v FOLDABLE BATH MAT.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR.14 1910.

Patented Feb.21, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

THE mamas PETERS co., wAsi-lmcrmv. n. c.

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FOLDABLE BATH-MAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

Application filed March 14, 1910. Serial No. 549,128.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURTON D. IINICKER noonnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldable Bath-Mats, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which corresponding letters of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive bath-mat for the use of tourists and others in places where the usual bathing facilities do not exist, which device may be so constructed that it may be utilized as a receptacle for carrying and emptying the water therein after use and then folded into compact form for storage or otherwise, all of which is hereinafter more particularly described and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus as it would appear when unfolded and ready for use; Fig. 2 is a like View showing portions of the frame elements and the false bottom; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken upon the line 3-, Fig. l, viewed in the direction. of the arrow there shown; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device when the walls are held vertically by means of corner connections to enable it to be utilized as a carrying receptacle; Fig. 5 is a like view showing the same as it would appear when partially folded, and Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of a bath-mat showing a modified construction.

Referring to the drawings, 1, Figs. 2, 3,

and 5, represents a base or bottom portion' formed from any suitable fabric or material, preferably canvas, attached to a rigid frame element 2, Figs. 2 and 3, which consists of a wire or rod bent in rectangular or other polygonal form, secured by means of eyelets or rivets 3 within a flap or fold 4 of said bottom.

Attached by means of a hinged connection with each of the four edges of the bottom portion 1, is a frame element 5 formed from wire bent in rectangular form and provided with a hinged portion 6, which is, by preference, loosely secured within the fold 4: outside of the frame element 2. Super-inn? posed upon the several frame elements, so as to cover the whole, is a waterproof fabric 7 forming the bath-mat proper. Said fabric is secured at its outer edges to the outer portions of the frame elements 5 by means of folds or flaps 8 stitched or riveted together. The fabric 7 is so cut that the distance from edge to edge, measured transversely, is less than that between the outer portions of the opposite frame elements when lying in a horizontal plane. The result is that when the fabric is secured to the frame elements and the frame unfolded or expanded, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the frame elements 5 will be tilted in the manner shown so as to stand at an angle to the plane of the horizon and inasmuch as the portions 9 of the mat which intervene between adjacent frame elements 5 are drawn taut, the whole is caused to assume a trough-like or dish-shape as clearly represented in said figures. In order to prevent the receptacle from being accidentally tilted by the move ment of water therein or from other causes, I provide gravity supports 10 which consist of U-shaped wires which are hinged to the outer edges where the frame elements 5 are located, by projecting said elements loosely into the hem as shown so that when the frame elements are expanded the parts 10 will assume vertical positions, and serve as legs to support the sides.

A bath may be taken by placing water directly in the shallow receptacle formed by the mat, but preferably by using a receptacle suspended above it together with a hose and spray. It is understood, of course, that one using the mat would stand upon the central portion.

Upon each of the outer corners of the outer frame elements is secured a hook-like catch 11, which, when the walls of the structure are raised to their several vertical positions, as shown in Fig. 4, are adapted to be connected with adjacent corners to fasten them together as indicated. When this is done the corner portions 9 will assume the spout-like shapes represented.

Chains 12 are attached to loops 13 upon opposite frame elements and are adapted to be connected by means of a handle 14 permanently attached to one of them and provided wit-h a hook 15 for detachably securing it to the other. l/Vhen thus connected,

as shown in Fig, 4, the receptacle may be carried with water in it the same as a pail or other vessel and may be readily emptied by grasping one of the corners with one hand and allowing the water to flow from another which forms a natural spout therefor.

When the water is emptied, the corner fastenings 11 may be detached when the hinged frame elements 5, together with the covering fabric may be folded flatly upon the central portion, thereby forming a thin flat package adapted to occupy but slight space.

The primary object of the false bottom element 1 is to prevent the fabric 7 from bagging when the receptacle is lifted. Instead of canvas, it is obvious that sheet metal or wire netting may be attached to the frame element 2, or a flap or hem upon the under side of the part 7 may be secured to said element and the false bottom dispensed with, but such a construction would be less du'able. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the use of a false bottom, as it is apparent that bagging may be otherwise prevented.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modification of the invention whereby the space between the adjacent frame elements 5, instead of being triangular may be made square, or substantially so. In such case I provide a rod 16 at each corner, the outer end of which is attached at 17 to the corner of the mat and the inner end is j o-intedly connected to the corner of the frame element 2 at 18 or to the hem of the false bottom 1. By utilizing the flexible fabric to form the jointed connections between the frame elements I am enabled to fold the different sections upon each other without in any manner straining the joints or other parts.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A foldable bath-mat in which are combined a primary polygonal frame element, supplemental substantially rectangular frame elements located upon the several sides thereof in hinged relation thereto to provide a reentrant triangular space at the respective corners of said primary frame between adjacent supplemental frames, a flexible waterproof cover superimposed upon said several frame elements and arranged to cover said triangular spaces, and means for supporting said supplemental frame elements in inclined planes extending upwardly and outwardly from said primary frame when the latter is in a horizontal position.

2. A foldable bath-mat in which are combined a frame comprising a primary poly onal frame element, supplemental frame elements located upon the several sides thereof in independent hinged relation thereto, a flexible waterproof cover superimposed upon said several frame elements,

means for tilting said supplemental frame elements upwardly and outwardly when the central one is horizontal, and means for preventing said cover from bagging when the structure is lifted with water therein.

3. A foldable bath-mat in which are combined a skeleton frame comprising a primary polygonal frame element, supplemental frame elements located upon the several sides thereof in independent hinged relation thereto, a flexible waterproof cover superimposed upon said several frame elements, means for tilting said outer frame elements upwardly and outwardly when the central one is horizontal, means for connecting the corners of said outer frame elements when the same are in substantially vertical positions, and means for preventing said cover from bagging when the structure is lifted with water therein.

I. A foldable bath-mat in which are combined a skeleton frame comprising a primary polygonal frame element, supplemental frame elements located upon the respective sides thereof in hinged relation thereto, a flexible waterproof cover superimposed upon said several frame elements, means for tilting each of said frame elements upwardly and outwardly when the central one is horizontal, and a false bottom secured to said central frame element to support the cover and prevent it from bagging when the structure is lifted with water in it.

5. A foldable bath-mat in which are combined a skeleton frame comprising a primary polygonal frame-element, supplemental frame-elements located upon'the respective sides thereof in hinged relation therewith, a flexible waterproof cover superimposed upon said frame elements, means for tilting each of said outer frame elements upwardly and outwardly when the central one is horizontal, means for detachably connecting the corners of said outer frame elements when they are in substantially vertical positions, and suspending elements for connecting oppositeouter frame elements.

6. A foldable bath-mat comprising in combination a skeleton frame composed of a primary polygonal frame element, supplemental frame elements located upon the respective sides thereof in hinged relation therewith, a flexible waterproof cover superv imposed upon said several frame elements, means for tilting each of said outer frame elements upwardly and outwardly when the central one is horizontal, means for det-achably connecting the corners of said outer frame elements when in substantially vertical positions, means for lifting said structure and corner spouts formed from the covering fabric and arranged to protrude between adjacent outer frame elements.

7. A foldable bath-mat in which are combined a primary polygonal frame element supplemental, substantially rectangular frame elements located upon the several sides thereof in hinged relation thereto, a flexible waterproof cover superimposed upon vsaid several frame elements and hinged gravity support-s connected with the outer edges of said supplemental frame elements to assume substantially vertical positions heneath them and support them in outwardly and upwardly inclined positions respectively when the latter are unfolded for use.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two sub- 15 scribing witnesses, this 12th day of March 1910.

BURTON D. KNICKERBOGKER.

Witnesses:

DAVID H. FLETCHER, CARRIE E. JORDAN. 

